Strange looking grosbeaks

by Bobbie
(Lake Lure, NC, Rutherford)

Today I was visited by 3 strange looking rose breasted grosbeaks...I think, Nothing in either of my wild bird books resembles, except the official rose breasted.

All three were about 8 inches in length. White breast/tummy with lesser-than-red apron/bib. The heads were not black but resembled the buff colored head of the female. The wing feathers were primarily black with white cheverons. The outher wing feathers were black with little white pock-a-dots. The shoulders and back area of the neck were the strange buffy-brown, same as the head with some darker markings which I couldn't see clearly.

They were eating from a feeder having primarily black sunflower seeds and milet. That feeder is very popular with all the birds, especially the cardinals. While the "grosbeaks" were present the cardinals stayed away. The feeder is almost empty now so neither is present.